The ianVisits guide to May's unusual events, tours, lectures and exhibitions happening around London.
Wednesday 1st May
The MML will open its doors to free May Day feature tours. Visitors can visit the room where Lenin worked in exile from 1902 to 1903 and see the displays.
10:30am to 3pm
Clerkenwell
£17.27
Delve into the science of cosmic exploration and explore alien worlds with founding director of the Carl Sagan Institute, Lisa Kaltenegger.
7pm to 8:30pm
Hanover Square
More London events on Wednesday 1st May
Thursday 2nd May
Join Stuart the CEO of Hoxton Hall on a guided tour of venue and learn all about the building's heritage
10am to 11am
Islington
An evening in the Medicinal Garden and Museum discovering how plants from the garden have been, and still are, used in medicine.
5:30pm to 8pm
Camden
Leo Murray - director of innovation and engagement at the charity We Are Possible will take you through a number of the programmes and workshops that have reduced car use in cities.
5:30pm to 8pm
Pimlico
On the first Thursday of the month, Holborn's Novelty Automation has a bar in the store for their late-night opening.
6pm to 9pm
Holborn
An evening of talks about three important collections of art and objects and how they were assembled
6:45pm to 9pm
Ealing
Chantal Lyons and her new book which takes us on a journey of discovery to get up close and personal with these complex and intelligent creatures and revealing what it might take for us to coexist with wild boar.
7pm to 8:30pm
Soho
More London events on Thursday 2nd May
Friday 3rd May
Six times a year, the private gardens at Lambeth Palace are opened to the public.
12pm to 3pm
Southwark
Join Ekow Eshun, the curator of our current exhibition The Time is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure, in Conversation with Dorothy Price, the curator of the Royal Academy’s current exhibition Entangled Pasts, 1768–now: Art, Colonialism and Change.
7pm to 8pm
Soho
Online events / webinars
Historian Jonathan Healey charts the turbulent course of the seventeenth century
2pm to 3pm
More London events on Friday 3rd May
Saturday 4th May
£28.50
Three weekends of big steam action on the Epping Ongar Railway with guest locomotives.
All Day
North Weald
IWA Canalway Cavalcade returns to London’s Little Venice to celebrate the best of life on the waterways in London and its community.
10am to 6pm
Maida Vale
£12.00
Come behind the scenes and explore the stores at the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
1:30pm to 2:30pm
Blackheath
Monthly open day at one of London's more curious and delightful museums, devoted to the history of the sewing machine.
2pm to 5pm
Tooting
£17.27
In a galaxy far, far away, join Alex Baker to discover the captivating chemistry found in the Star Wars universe.
7pm to 8:30pm
Hanover Square
More London events on Saturday 4th May
Sunday 5th May
£28.50
Three weekends of big steam action on the Epping Ongar Railway with guest locomotives.
All Day
North Weald
IWA Canalway Cavalcade returns to London’s Little Venice to celebrate the best of life on the waterways in London and its community.
10am to 6pm
Maida Vale
Monthly open day at the museum to London's first international airport - in Croydon.
10am to 4pm
Croydon
£3.00
The green market will feature over 30 stalls selling green gifts and eco-friendly alternatives from local businesses.
11am to 4pm
Fulham
For the fourth year, the dandies and dandizettes of Britain will set forth on the longest walk they will probably take all year.
12pm to 5pm
St James
More London events on Sunday 5th May
Monday 6th May
£28.50
Three weekends of big steam action on the Epping Ongar Railway with guest locomotives.
All Day
North Weald
IWA Canalway Cavalcade returns to London’s Little Venice to celebrate the best of life on the waterways in London and its community.
10am to 5pm
Maida Vale
Two sets of military gun salutes will take place today to mark the anniversary of the King's Coronation.
12pm to 2pm
Online events / webinars
This talk will combine an overview of Wilde’s life and philosophy peppered with readings from his poetry and prose to illustrate
7:30pm to 9pm
More London events on Monday 6th May
Tuesday 7th May
Come take a ride in the Tech Time Machine and explore how IT may change our lives in the next fifty years.
6pm to 7pm
Holborn
A talk about designer James Leonard whose 1940s aluminium and ply school furniture for ESA in Stevenage sold in the millions.
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Hampstead
Online events / webinars
For Dying Matters week 2024, a look at the past, present and future of end-of-life care.
6pm to 7:30pm
More London events on Tuesday 7th May
Wednesday 8th May
The display will involve a selection of some of the most famous cars piloted by Sir Stirling Moss to demonstrate his remarkable career.
9am to 3pm
Pimlico
Spend an hour in the Soane Museum Research Library looking at drawings with the curator of our exhibition Fanciful Figures.
Starts at 11am
Holborn
In this talk by City Guide Pete Smith, you will encounter a sailing ship that has circled the globe and a famous food market
2pm to 3pm
City of London
Online events / webinars
Meeting monthly to explore a range of London writing, with a remit covering fiction and non-fiction for all periods in London's History
6pm to 7pm
This lecture is illustrated with stunning artwork of the haunted places, and packed with historical facts, legends, and anecdotes.
8pm to 9:30pm
More London events on Wednesday 8th May
Thursday 9th May
Come behind the scenes to discover the history of Hackney Empire with a free guided tour.
11am to 12:15pm
Hackney
Celebrating the legendary actress Sarah Siddons and the first biography about her in over 50 years, Jo Willett uncovers previously unpublished sources to reveal new insights into Sarah’s marriage, life and career.
1pm to 2pm
Soho
Free
Each year, the clergy of the City of London's oldest church process around the parish "beating" the boundary markers.
4:15pm to 6pm
City of London
Professor Sarah Franklin, winner of the 2023 Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Medal, discusses her research into public perceptions of IVF and embryo research.
6:30pm to 7:30pm
Wimbledon
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II unveiling of the Thames Barrier, a symbol of London's flood resilience.
6:30pm to 8pm
Pimlico
Free
Explore the incredible creativity of people working in science and tech.
6:30pm to 10:30pm
South Kensington
Celebrating Edmonton's food cultural heritage with a panel discussion and documentary premiere.
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Upper Edmonton
Join Jake Elliott and Amy Wilcockson as they discuss current research on two Romantic poets.
6:30pm to 8pm
Hampstead
Mima’s Head of Accessibility and Inclusive Design, Emily Yates, will share case studies as well as hints and tips on how to bring further inclusivity into the world of design.
7pm to 8:30pm
City of London
Join Michel Roux, Emily Roux and former Head Chef, Steven Doherty as they talk to Angela Hartnett about the story, the history and the legacy of this legendary restaurant and the family that ran it.
Starts at 7:15pm
Camden
An entertainment devised by the renowned magic lantern performers Jeremy and Carolyn Brooker.
7:30pm to 9pm
Euston
More London events on Thursday 9th May
Friday 10th May
£17.27
Quantum physicist Jim Al-Khalili and Nobel Prize winner Kip Thorne discuss everything from black holes to the science behind Hollywood hit 'Interstellar'.
7pm to 8:30pm
Hanover Square
More London events on Friday 10th May
Saturday 11th May
£17.30
The main hall will have over 500 tables across the weekend with the mainstream Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Sports and Formula 1 to the niche UFC, Disney, and Marvel cards.
9am to 4pm
Esher
Normally you need to pay to visit the gardens, but on a few weekends a year, the gardens are free to visit.
10am to 4pm
East Molesey
Upminster Windmill has been extensively restored and is now open one weekend per month from Spring to Autumn.
10am to 4pm
Upminster
You can try hundreds of different small batch and limited edition sauces from makers from all over the UK.
11am to 7pm
Peckham
£5.00
The church nave is transformed to a series of stalls selling Danish design, crafts, embroidery, books, antiques and no end of Danish pastries and baked goods.
11am to 5pm
Camden
Free
Marilyn Harper, chapel organist, will demonstrate its workings and offer a guided session for people to play it.
3pm to 4:30pm
Dulwich
Join poets Julia Bird and Mike Sims for a social afternoon of readings and conversation exploring Keats's great gift for friendship.
3pm to 4:30pm
Hampstead
As part of the Cathedrals at Night series of events, St Paul’s will be open for the evening, with guided tours and trails and handling sessions with their craftspeople.
6pm to 8:30pm
City of London
More London events on Saturday 11th May
Sunday 12th May
£17.30
The main hall will have over 500 tables across the weekend with the mainstream Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Sports and Formula 1 to the niche UFC, Disney, and Marvel cards.
9am to 4pm
Esher
Normally you need to pay to visit the gardens, but on a few weekends a year, the gardens are free to visit.
10am to 4pm
East Molesey
Upminster Windmill has been extensively restored and is now open one weekend per month from Spring to Autumn.
10am to 4pm
Upminster
£15.00
Get down onto the river bed, explore the ecology and wade into the natural and social histories of the Deptford Creek
10:30am to 12:30pm
Deptford
The event features kite flying by experts flying kites of all shapes and sizes from a postage stamp through to a life size blue whale over 30 meters long.
11am to 5pm
Streatham
Punch & Judy Professors and Puppeteers gather to perform in the Garden of St Paul’s Church near the spot where Samuel Pepys first recorded sighting Mr Punch in May 1662.
11am to 5:30pm
Covent Garden
Free
An annual march past by former and serving members of many cavalry regiments, followed by a short service to commemorate those who were killed on active service.
11am to 12pm
Mayfair
A tour inside the newly restored Chapel.
11am to 2pm
Stoke Newington
Free
It is a free outdoor, family friendly, event that includes Vauxhall City Farm, Punch and Judy, the Magician, a Maypole, interactive performances and a dog show.
12pm to 5pm
Dulwich
Visitors to the mill are given a full guided tour covering the history, operation and principal features of Shirley Windmill.
12pm to 5pm
Croydon
More London events on Sunday 12th May
Monday 13th May
Embroiderers to the British royal family, Savile Row and luxury fashion houses, Hand & Lock opens its doors to the public to offer an insight into Britain’s oldest embroidery house.
10am to 11:30am
Fitzrovia
Building Crafts College hosts tours of its workshops alongside an exhibition of current and previous students’ work.
Starts at 10:30am
Stratford
Reshape our understanding of science's past and untangle intercontinental science networks with Cambridge University Junior Fellow, Gianamar Giovannetti-Singh.
7pm to 8:30pm
Hanover Square
Monday 13 May 19:00 – 20:45, British Library Pigott Theatre Join some of food’s best-loved voices as they explore the food writing that whets their appetites. With Miquita Oliver, Aji Akokomi, Madhur Jaffrey, Jeremy Lee, Sally Abe, Rosie Sykes and Ravinder Bhogal
Starts at 7pm
Camden
Online events / webinars
Join Catland co-owner Melissa Madara for a storytelling session & analysis of some of the most infamous plants in the witch's apothecary
8pm to 9:30pm
More London events on Monday 13th May
Tuesday 14th May
Embroiderers to the British royal family, Savile Row and luxury fashion houses, Hand & Lock opens its doors to the public to offer an insight into Britain’s oldest embroidery house.
10am to 11:30am
Fitzrovia
Building Crafts College hosts tours of its workshops alongside an exhibition of current and previous students’ work.
Starts at 10:30am
Stratford
Free
This three day event will be a celebration of all things pewter, with live demonstrations, workshops and exhibits
11am to 3:30pm
City of London
This talk and document viewing will tell the story of the growth and development of South London, using sections of John Rocque's 1746 map.
12:30pm to 1:30pm
Clerkenwell
In this lecture I will show you some mathematical illusions: “proofs” that 1=0, that fractions don’t exist, and more.
1pm to 2pm
Holborn
£18.00
Steven Brindle considers the development of the Greek style in England, from its tentative and experimental mid-Georgian beginnings, to its sudden triumph in the Regency age
6:30pm to 7:30pm
Tottenham Court Road
Discover how batteries will power our planet into the future.
7pm to 8:30pm
Hanover Square
Celebrated cartoonist Martin Rowson talks about his extraordinary edition of Marx's Communist Manifesto.
Starts at 7:30pm
Highgate
More London events on Tuesday 14th May
Wednesday 15th May
Merchant & Found, one of the UK’s leading online vintage furniture and lighting stores, hosts a 6,000-square-foot vintage supermarket at the Vinyl Factory Soho.
10am to 7pm
Soho North
Embroiderers to the British royal family, Savile Row and luxury fashion houses, Hand & Lock opens its doors to the public to offer an insight into Britain’s oldest embroidery house.
10am to 11:30am
Fitzrovia
Building Crafts College hosts tours of its workshops alongside an exhibition of current and previous students’ work.
Starts at 10:30am
Stratford
During the tour, Academy students perform various excerpts to demonstrate how music, violins and their performance practice have evolved from the Baroque period to the present day.
Starts at 11am
Camden
Free
This three day event will be a celebration of all things pewter, with live demonstrations, workshops and exhibits
11am to 3:30pm
City of London
St Bride Foundation will be opening the doors to the historic print workshop for people to experience the amazing craft and history of letterpress printing.
5pm to 9pm
City of London
Online events / webinars
Join bestselling historian James Holland to explore the brutal story of the most pivotal campaign of the Second World War.
7:30pm to 8:30pm
More London events on Wednesday 15th May
Thursday 16th May
Merchant & Found, one of the UK’s leading online vintage furniture and lighting stores, hosts a 6,000-square-foot vintage supermarket at the Vinyl Factory Soho.
10am to 7pm
Soho North
Free
This three day event will be a celebration of all things pewter, with live demonstrations, workshops and exhibits
11am to 1:30pm
City of London
Take a Virtual Tour of St Paul’s with City of London Guide & Lecturer and St Paul's Cathedral Guide Jill Finch.
2pm to 3pm
City of London
Join Wendy Moore as she reveals the remarkable story of the unconventional love and loyalty of Vera ‘Jack’ Holme and Evelina Haverfield, suffragettes, life partners and trailblazing feminists who carved radical new paths for women during the First World War.
5pm to 6:30pm
Holborn
Visit grooming experts MÜHLE on Thursday 16 May for an evening of brush-making and shaving demonstrations, trivia and bubbles.
5:30pm to 7:30pm
Soho North
In his first public talk, BBC correspondent Daniel De Simone will offer previously unheard insights into his two-year investigation
5:30pm to 7pm
Holborn
After hours opening of the Old Operating Theatre museum.
6pm to 8:30pm
Southwark
Join Alison Weir and Sarah Gristwood in conversation as they explore the dynamic relationship between the courts of Tudor England and Renaissance France.
6:30pm to 8pm
Pimlico
Two talks on the history of swords in the British Army and how they are made today.
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Chelsea
Every book-lover's dream: a celebration of 550 years of the printed book
6:30pm to 8pm
Southwark
More London events on Thursday 16th May
Friday 17th May
City & Guilds of London Art School hosts a two-day event showcasing some of the historic and contemporary craft skills they champion.
10am to 5pm
Kennington
Merchant & Found, one of the UK’s leading online vintage furniture and lighting stores, hosts a 6,000-square-foot vintage supermarket at the Vinyl Factory Soho.
10am to 7pm
Soho North
Embroiderers to the British royal family, Savile Row and luxury fashion houses, Hand & Lock opens its doors to the public to offer an insight into Britain’s oldest embroidery house.
10am to 11:30am
Fitzrovia
More London events on Friday 17th May
Saturday 18th May
Free
Ancient annual fair in Cheam, started by a procession by the Mayor to the fair.
9am to 2pm
Cheam
Merchant & Found, one of the UK’s leading online vintage furniture and lighting stores, hosts a 6,000-square-foot vintage supermarket at the Vinyl Factory Soho.
10am to 7pm
Soho North
Free entry to the gallery this weekend as part of the Dulwich Festival.
10am to 5pm
Dulwich
£10.00
Pope's Grotto, in Radnor House School, will be open 13 days in 2024, and this is one of the open days.
10am to 12:30pm
Twickenham
The international event of the top doll house builders, miniature artisans & DIY suppliers attending.
10am to 5pm
Kensington
The programme will feature their usual mix of contemporary and historical vexillological presentations.
10am to 4:30pm
Holborn
A monthly display of classic cars in Waterloo - usually attracting around 20 vehicles.
11am to 2pm
Southwark
City & Guilds of London Art School hosts a two-day event showcasing some of the historic and contemporary craft skills they champion.
1pm to 6pm
Kennington
£17.06
Join Catherine Cawthorne as she fact-checks your favourite stories with science.
2pm to 3:15pm
Hanover Square
More London events on Saturday 18th May
Sunday 19th May
Free entry to the gallery this weekend as part of the Dulwich Festival.
10am to 5pm
Dulwich
Free
Watch a ceremonial fleet of boats row from Hampton Court Palace to the Tower of London.
Starts at 10:30am
Visit the three listed buildings and see the four Victorian beam engines, one of which has been fully restored and will be steaming throughout the day.
10:30am to 4pm
Abbey Wood
As a visitor you can expect to see some of the rarest and most unique books available, not to mention unique memorabilia and stunning artworks in their own right.
11am to 5pm
Chelsea
Roger Vadim’s memorable (not always for the right reasons) Scifi fantasy starring Jane Fonda and many well-known faces.
Starts at 2pm
Kennington
Free
Writer and historian Michael Meyer pieces together unpublished archives, private papers and courtroom transcripts to bring Annie and Victorian London to life.
2pm to 3pm
Holborn
Journalist, broadcaster and documentary-maker Jenny Kleeman takes us on an adventure to meet some of the people who decide what we’re worth.
3pm to 4:30pm
Holborn
More London events on Sunday 19th May
Monday 20th May
Explore the “dead-centre” of Streatham with resident local historian and writer, John Brown.
1:30pm to 3pm
Streatham
Annual evening opening of the Lambeth Palace gardens to the public.
5pm to 8pm
Southwark
£16.96
Saumarez Smith, author of a new book on Vanbrugh, will give an overview of the architect’s life and particularly his posthumous reputation.
6:25pm to 8:15pm
Fleet Street
More London events on Monday 20th May
Tuesday 21st May
A review of the many theories that attempt to explain his origin and meaning. Join City Guide Robert Stephenson to find out more.
2pm to 3pm
City of London
A talk with Lady Olga Maitland, founder of Families for Defence, a counterpoint to the anti-nuclear protests of the 1980s.
5pm to 6:30pm
Holborn
Laura Laker talking about her new book Potholes and Pavements: A bumpy ride on Britain's National Cycle Network.
7pm to 8:30pm
Soho
Online events / webinars
An online discussion on the use of figures in contemporary architectural practice.
12pm to 8pm
More London events on Tuesday 21st May
Wednesday 22nd May
The Lord Mayor of the City of London and the Sheriffs will be mounting up and taking part in a ride around the City.
9am to 11:30am
A display of luxury and heritage cars along Savile Row for two days.
10am to 8pm
Hanover Square
In this after hours tour, discover the portrait collection of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP).
5:30pm to 7pm
Camden
More London events on Wednesday 22nd May
Thursday 23rd May
A display of luxury and heritage cars along Savile Row for two days.
10am to 8pm
Hanover Square
£10.00
Contemporary artist Esther Teichmann will look at the ways in which photography is used to transport a viewer beyond reality and into a dream space.
1pm to 2pm
Soho
Sunday Times bestselling novelist Alison Weir returns to Southwark Cathedral with the spellbinding story of Mary I.
7pm to 8:30pm
Southwark
More London events on Thursday 23rd May
Friday 24th May
Join Conrad Shawcross as he explores using artistic expression to explore cosmological theories and the perception envelope.
7:20pm to 8:45pm
Hanover Square
More London events on Friday 24th May
Saturday 25th May
£11.73
The annual weekend of vintage cars on display alongside traditional village fair.
9am to 6pm
Enfield
The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships fleet will be at St Katherines Docks this weekend.
11am to 5pm
Wapping
Screening of a block of newly restored cartoons from the legendary Fleischer Studios featuring Betty Boop, Popeye, Koko the Clown and more.
Starts at 2pm
Kennington
Late in the afternoon of the last day of the Chelsea Flower Show, many of the exhibitors sell off their plants to the visitors.
Starts at 4pm
Sloane Square
Step into ancient landscapes with award-winning paleobiologist Thomas Halliday as he guides us through a series of explorations.
7pm to 8:30pm
Hanover Square
More London events on Saturday 25th May
Sunday 26th May
£11.73
The annual weekend of vintage cars on display alongside traditional village fair.
9am to 5pm
Enfield
A WW2-era history attraction that's open to the public once a month.
10:30am to 4pm
Watford
The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships fleet will be at St Katherines Docks this weekend.
11am to 4pm
Wapping
Once a month, the oldest building in Hackney, St Augustine's Tower is open, so you can climb up to the top.
2pm to 4:30pm
Hackney
More London events on Sunday 26th May
Monday 27th May
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Monday 27th May
Tuesday 28th May
This talk and document viewing will tell the story of the growth and development of West London, using sections of John Rocque's 1746 map.
12:30pm to 1:30pm
Clerkenwell
Alan Powers, co-author with the late Elain Harwood of a new book on Goldfinger, will explain some key works that are less well known.
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Hampstead
Online events / webinars
In this lecture, step into the captivating world of the Vikings and delve into their rich culture and enduring traditions
9:30pm to 10:30pm
More London events on Tuesday 28th May
Wednesday 29th May
Online events / webinars
Join historian and author, Damien Lewis discussing his latest book, SAS Great Escapes 3.
7:30pm to 8:30pm
This talk will demonstrate Carroll’s influence on the Surrealists, explore the remarkable mind of the author
8pm to 9:30pm
More London events on Wednesday 29th May
Thursday 30th May
Join archaeologist and historian Robert Hartle as he tells the story of the earliest ‘resurrectionists’.
6pm to 8:30pm
Southwark
From bestselling author of A History of the World According to Sheep comes a deeply fascinating exploration of a fast-vanishing way of life as Coulthard chronicles the countryside through tools, toys, domestic objects and more.
7pm to 8:30pm
Soho
More London events on Thursday 30th May
Friday 31st May
A special Soane Late which will take a closer look at the Museum's current exhibition Fanciful Figures.
Starts at 6pm
Holborn
